Feb 25 - sorrow to joy

Intro:

What a wonderful moment to celebrate today the joy of children. The joy of past hope, current reality, and future anticipation all wrapped up in little smiles, rambunctious attitudes, and great snuggles. I will say I think often of joy as a parent. My two boys are so incredible and Jen and I are so proud and thankful for them entering our lives, who they are now, and who they will become.

(Picture of Jen and I)

Here is a picture of my wife and I. We have experienced so much joy together as we have sacrificed for one another. As we have done that, God has given mercy and grace to make every year better.

Our boys have brought an enormous amount of joy because they remind me of the things that matter. I also remind them from time to time on the things that matter.

(Picture of Benjamin)

Speaking of things that matter, here is a great photo of Benjamin around 8 or 9 months….eating some lovely spaghetti! If you look close, he looks like he got it in his eyes, like his pupils are now spaghetti tinted!

(Picture of Charlie)

Charlie came into the world ready to party. Smaller in size but makes up for it in gusto and energy! Here is a photo of him the day he was born! He is ready to kick the door down of life like a ninja.

(Picture of Boys)

Here are the boys today….So much love of life. Our lives are not only those photos believe me. We have experienced confusion, misunderstanding, and sorrow.

But, it is all blotted out by joy. Joy that cannot be taken away with confusion, anxiety, or even loss. even sorrow. The joy they bring eclipses any strain.

By definition joy comes in spite of challenges. Joy is not an experience that comes from favorable outcomes. That would be happiness. Joy is a gift of well being, the gift knowing all is right in the things that truly matter. We experience joy in the Lord when we focus on the things He says matter.

Another commentary writes that joy is a deep-seated gladness that radiates from a relationship with God, remaining constant amidst life's challenges and rooted in the promises and presence of the Lord. Our joy is rooted in the promises and presence of God in our lives!

In our text today in John 16, we are are reminded of this truth as Jesus is outlining to the disciples that there will be sorrow ahead. There will be confusion, and anxiety. Others will mockingly rejoice at the situation but the disciples will feel confusion and anxiety. But, just around the bend on this path will be a day of great joy as Salvation is here. I want to encourage you to know that our earthly sorrow is eclipsed by the Joy of salvation found in Jesus Christ. The sorrow may be felt like a pitch black night but there will be a light that overcomes it. That light is Jesus Christ. We experience that today and forevermore.

CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING

WDIS &WDIM

Turn with me to John 16 - Lets start out reading verses 16

John 16:16–18 NIV

Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

Jesus is saying, pretty soon I will be gone. But then, in a little while, you will see me. Pretty simple really. Um actually it isn’t and especially for the disciples who generally respond to the words of Jesus with a collective…Um what?

Not to mention that here in the upper room, they are getting the firehouse all the information at once communication from Jesus. We are taking 11-12 weeks to walk through this section. Imagine the Lord sitting down and talking about it. How many moments would you need ask….”what was that? I am sorry, I apologize I have the attention span of a fly….I lost track of what you were saying.

We should remember that they have not seen the cross, experienced the spiritual reality of the cross yet. So to them, this feels like the absolute wrong ending to a roughly 3 year journey. Remember, most if not all were waiting for Jesus to take over, kick Rome out, and rule as the ultimate warrior King. To make mention of Jesus leaving….what do you mean? that can’t be the way this goes down.

All in all, they are confused. While Jesus is speaking to his disciples, they are experiencing confusion and misunderstanding. I won’t go through them all now but I encourage you to skim through the gospel of John and look at all the times Jesus is misunderstood. This confusion, this misunderstanding of Jesus… In each situation, there is an assumption made regarding their world view. Instead of letting the words of Jesus dictate the world view, they were trying to fit in Jesus, to make their assumptions work. This deep confusion is a stopping spot on the road to sorrow. Confusion is a stopping spot on the road to sorrow.

Misunderstanding and Confusion - What does it mean for us?

And it really is no different for us when we feel confusion over what Jesus is saying in contrast to what we are feeling or experiencing. What the Spirit is wanting us to focus on vs what our eyes our drawn too. What our minds want to obsess over.

How many of you have had a situation where you are thinking…this cannot be the way. I read the words of the Lord and then I am in a situation, and I am confused. I don’t understand.

And so often, you and I will try and fit God, fit the risen savior, fit the Spirit into our agenda. Fit him like a puzzle piece rather than understanding that God is the one who made the puzzle. The bible in many places talks about being conformed to Christ rather than the world such as Rom 12:2 where we don’t conform our lives to way the world works, that is those without God. We conform to Christ, our agenda decreases and goes away and His agenda rises up. When we don’t do that, we are creating the perfect scenario for confusion and misunderstanding.

Like the disciples, we too are susceptible to being confused and not understanding. Thankfully, Jesus responds here in verse 19…

JESUS KNOWS

John 16:19 NIV

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’?

We see the reminder that Jesus knows. When we are confused, God isn’t wondering if we are confused, he knows we are. And he does something about their confusion. 1 Cor 14:33 in the ESV says that God does not stir up within us a spirit of confusion but of peace.

We find Joy in knowing…that Jesus knows. Why? Because Jesus isn’t far away not understanding, connecting with the sorrow of humanity. He knows! He is intimately aware of this moment and how it is affecting the disciples.

He knows our confusion, our misunderstandings. He knows our deep sadness at how life can be so twisted. He knows. He also knows our sorrow…. Jesus tells them in verse 20.

John 16:20 NIV

20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Sorrow:

Now some scholars point to an idea that this verse is perhaps making reference about Jesus’ second return or perhaps the coming of the Holy Spirit. I tend to go with the simpler and more adopted interpretation.

Jesus is saying I am going to die. You will mourn. You will have deep, agonizing, confusion, misunderstood sorrow. I am telling you that this will happen.

You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. What is Jesus saying when he says the world here….

Starting in Matthew 27:39, we see those who walked by the cross as Jesus was on it, hurled insults at him. They said “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

When Jesus says “the World” here, it is those who would cry out crucify to Roman leadership. Those who want the system to stay exactly the same. Jesus was an absolute threat to they system that, in their mind, provided for them. Those folks rejoiced!

Meanwhile you have women like Jesus’ mother, Mary and Mary Magdalene off in the distance witnessing this. What sorrow they must have felt. Confusion and Misunderstanding as this was not the promised king who would make all things right. How can it end like this? The disciples will feel this too as we read later in the gospels.

I would describe sorrow as varying ways that my heart, soul and mind try to deal with loss and fail. Its the scream in my heart that they are not here any longer. it is absent minded thought to call them and then realize that I can’t. You have probably felt this too.

But Jesus reminds us that there is relief coming. He uses a situation many would be familiar with….see in verse 21.

John 16:21 NIV

21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

When Jen was pregnant each time with the boys, she has been honest…she didn’t like that one bit. Others enjoy it…Jen did not.

Jump forward to her giving birth…both times. We had a plan….that plan went sideways only after long long horrible hours of pushing, and pain. Jen did not enjoy any of that!

But, the moment comes when I am holding Benjamin and then 3 years later Charlie….I bring our child into the room. We decided to wait to find out if our child was a boy or girl. So Jen and I find out, for the most part, at the same time that we are having a boy! The joy that was and is in our heart is overwhelming!

All the inconvenience, all the unfortunate less-than -favorable experiences. All the throw up. It is eclipsed by that moment of Joy.

That joy grows….not because there still isn’t unfortunate moments…but because in them, in our relationship, I am reminded of Christ. I see glimpses of the divine in how they view the world.

I am reminded of the Father’s awesomeness when I humbly reflect on my own ineptitude as a father. When they choose kindness and respect, when they long for the hug of mom or dad to feel right in the world….I remember that should be my attitude, my posture and my heading with Jesus. Am I longing to be in the presence of my savior?

Jesus is also speaking of a spiritual crossroads and new birth here. His hour is soon coming to rescue man from sin and death by taking our place. The child, that is the church, is about to be born out of great difficulty and sorrow but joy is on the horizon! Jesus will go through much but for the joy of those being born into the kingdom He was willing to do it. We have more reasons to rejoice! Amen….

You will experience sorrow and confusion but then, with the joy of salvation, you will experience joy. He remarks on this in verse 22

John 16:22 NIV

22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Jesus is pointing out that their grief will be for a time but they will rejoice and nothing will change it! No one will take away their joy! What joy can never be taken away from you?

The kind that is based on eternal realities rather than temporary ones. The worst kind of hopelessness is the one in which we put all our hope on something or someone that can never deliver eternally on that hope.

A song lyric I have enjoyed recently…God is good. Life is twisted. And yet we keep building the foundation of our lives with twisted boards. Jesus in Matthew and Luke references how those that put their foundation on Christ can withstand the storms, the floods of life.

Jesus is reminding us here that when our foundation is on God, Christ, our salvation……our foundation is secure. God is good no matter how twisted life may get. God is good! It can never be taken away.

Our joy is found in the saving power of the cross. For the disciples, In just a little while, a new age is beginning with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As well as the gift of the Holy Spirit.

As one commentator put it…. All fail to realize that the single most important event in the history of the human race is about to take place. Jesus concludes our text today by explaining some stark differences that are coming with this event. It is often taken out of context.

Read here in verse 23.

John 16:23–24 NIV

23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Without context it might be tempting to reading 23b and verse 24 and start treating the Lord as a ticket machine at an arcade that you can redeem his favor for the desires of your heart.

I pray for money, i pray for things, i pray for a week vacation to a tropical place where the sky isn’t grey and the pavement is not wet 7 days a week, I pray for a vehicle that both allows me to go off road and not cost a lot of money for gas, …I pray for a weekend away with my wife, ….sorry I thought I would just take this time to actually acknowledge my wants..haha

That is NOT what this verse is talking about.

In a similar way of two little whiles, there are two meanings for the word “ask”. One is to communicate a question, and the other is to make a request. In verse 23, it is the word for asking a question. Up to this point, so much of the time, Jesus would say things to his disciples and they would respond by coming to him with all their questions. They asked so many questions, it was like doing ministry with the riddler!

He is saying, in that day, when your joy is complete because salvation has risen, you now enjoy intimacy with God. You can go to Him with your questions. The divide between you and the Great I AM is now bridged because of Jesus. One commentary explained it this way: When Jesus is risen, the issues which frustrate the disciples will be made clear.

They could not understand yet, because they simply could not comprehend Jesus’ departure and future exaltation. But when these key events have taken place and the Spirit has arrived, they will become the key to unlocking the rest

The 2nd part of the ask is to make a request.

John 16:24 NIV

24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

This is the aspect that many who ascribe to a prosperity Gospel mindset like to gravitate toward. I would gently ask that we remember that anything we request of the Lord is to be done IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

Unordered desires, misaligned expectations, timelines that are skewed….If God does something different than our expectations, timelines, in spite of our desires …..is He any less God? Is our posture any less worshipful? Do our actions reflect an intentionality to partner with the Spirit? To live out new righteousness.

God is God. Period. All powerful all knowing. He is due praise and honor for who He is.

AND——He demonstrates magnificent love for humanity. Unrelenting love. Full of grace and mercy. Part of that is because He knows. and He responds. He never stops working.

When you ask for something in the name of Jesus, you have to also pray his prayer. Not my will Lord but yours be done. You also have to have the mindset of Christ in Phil 2, putting on the nature of a servant. Humbled himself and was obedient, even to death on a cross. Does our prayer reflect a heart that is conforming to mindset of Christ found there?

If you want God most you will be sure to get Him; if your heart’s desires are after Him, your heart’s desires will be satisfied.Jesus is saying….Ask for God and you shall receive. Not only will you receive but your joy is complete. Remember, no one will take that Joy away from you. Because things are now right between you and the Lord!

APPLICATION:

As we close today, I would encourage you in three ways to lean in to how God will turn your sorrow to joy.

1. When we feel confused, seek out the Spirit of Truth

Remember that God knows our confusion and longs to bring light to the darkness. Don’t walk in the darkness but seek the truth. Read the word, ask the Spirit to reveal the way for that word of God to transform you. Seek community as the christian life was not intended to be walked alone. Our life this side of heaven won’t be devoid of confusion but clarity can be brought to the things that matter through God, His Word, The Spirit and His People. I loved the verse we went through in John 15:26

John 15:26 NIV

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

When we feel confused, may we look to the SPirit of Truth and the testimony about Jesus to light our way.

2. When we feel sorrow, trust in the one who promises Joy in a little while

Remember, that sense of sadness and confusion due to loss, produces sorrow. But we can rejoice because, in this life, we can experience true joy because of Christ. Whether we think of the past, the present or the future, we have more to be thankful for! 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 outlines this trust in God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

3.Fix our eyes on Jesus and rejoice in the Lord for the joy of our salvation.

When we pray with our priorities right, our is complete in a similar way to that of Jesus. Hebrews 12:2

Hebrews 12:2 NIV

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For the joy set before him, a joy that means all is right in the things that matter.

Nehemiah 8:10 says do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength. They were grieving because they realized how much they had broken their covenant with God but the prophet reminds them- “They could delight in the joy of the Lord because he is a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate,” (STUDY BIBLE) We find a safe strong harbor of strength when we dwell on this truth of God. May we remember that today and in the days ahead, that we have joy that cannot be taken away.

Let us pray